Eminent breaks 40mph mark in pre-Eclipse workout

Fire Brigade - Michael Bell
After 70mm of rain on Tuesday with more to follow, the summer grounds were closed but the flat gallop on Racecourse Side never ceases to amaze and was riding on the easy side of good at worst. The useful handicapper mixed it with the pacy Comprise over six furlongs and is entered at Yarmouth on Friday.

Poet's Word - Sir Michael Stoute
Along with many of his local counterparts, Stoute was taking his annual post-Ascot break and was in the best place given the weather. His team were ably supervised in his absence by understudy James Horton who watched on as the progressive sort powered up the Al Bahathri and the four-year-old may take up his entry in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday week.

Retribution - David Lanigan
It was good to see reigning UAE champion jockey Richard Mullen back in Newmarket and he was on duty for Rathmoy Stables when riding two lots of work on the Cambridge Road Polytrack. Mullen, who usually rides for Charlie Appleby on his annual summer visit, plans to return to the saddle next week when he's sure to be in demand.

Defoe - Roger Varian
Thankfully, Varian's team on the Al Bahathri were moving a bit quicker than the traffic in central Newmarket at breakfast time which was gridlocked due to an accident on the A14. This is not an unusual occurrence but Andrea Atzeni enjoyed a much smoother ride on the London Gold Cup winner who may tackle the sunbets.co.uk handicap at York on Saturday.

Great Work !!! Eminent - Martyn Meade
Freddy Meade's Equinity gadget told him that the Derby fourth was clocking 40.2mph approaching the five pole in a seven furlong workout on the Al Bahathri Polytrack with regular partner Solo Hunter. The Frankel colt looks to have benefited from missing Royal Ascot and will have one more spin on turf before his next assignment in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.